The minimum level of knowledge, as indicated below, may not be below level 3 of the training-level structure laid down in the Annex to Council Decision 85/368/EEC of 16 July 1985 on the comparability of vocational traning qualifications between the Member States of the European Community , that is the level achieved in training acquired in the course of compulsory education supplemented either by vocational training and supplementary technical training or by secondary school or other technical training.

The minimum level of knowledge, as indicated below, may not be below level 3 of the training-level structure laid down in the Annex to Council Decision 85/368/EEC of 16 July 1985 on the comparability of vocational traning qualifications between the Member States of the European Community , that is the level achieved in training acquired in the course of compulsory education supplemented either by vocational training and supplementary technical training or by secondary school or other technical training.

Regulated courses for the professions of state-certified ("staatlich geprüfte(r)") technician ("Techniker(in)"), business economist ("Betriebswirt(in)"), designer ("Gestalter(in)") and family assistant ("Familienpfleger(in)"), of a total duration of not less than 16 years, a prerequisite of which is successful completion of compulsory schooling or equivalent education and training (of a duration of not less than nine years) and successful completion of a course at a trade school ("Berufsschule") of a duration of not less than three years and comprising, upon completion of at least two years of work experience, full-time education and tra ...[+++]ining of a duration of not less than two years or part-time education and training of equivalent duration.

Regulated courses for the professions of State-certified ("staatlich geprüfte(r)") technician ("Techniker(in)"), business economist ("Betriebswirt(in)"), designer ("Gestalter(in)") and family assistant ("Familienpfleger(in)"), of a total duration of not less than 16 years, a prerequisite of which is successful completion of compulsory schooling or equivalent education and training (of a duration of not less than nine years) and successful completion of a course at a trade school ("Berufsschule") of a duration of not less than three years and comprising, upon completion of at least two years of work experience, full-time education and tra ...[+++]ining of a duration of not less than two years or part-time education and training of equivalent duration.

Regulated courses and regulated in-service training, of a total duration of not less than 15 years, a prerequisite of which is, generally speaking, successful completion of compulsory schooling (of a duration of not less than nine years) and of vocational training (normally three years) and which generally comprise at least two years of work experience (three years in most cases) and an examination in the context of in-service training preparation for which generally comprises a training course which is either concurrent with the practical experience (at least 1 000 hours) or attended on a full-time basis (at least one year).

Complementing the work initiated at Lisbon and Stockholm on the 'new' basic skills, proposals are developed to ensure that the foundations of lifelong learning are accessible to all citizens, at all stages of their lives and not just within compulsory education.